Archives for August 2018

The party’s programme to build the country would be presented to the masses in January 2019 says the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka. He said this at a meeting held at Godakawela held as a part of the ‘Ten Thousand Meetings’ programme of the JVP held throughout the country under the theme “People’s Administration to Develop & Protect Country.”
Mr Dissanayaka said the country could be built only if the present political system is changed and emphasized that no party that has ruled the country has taken the necessary steps to build the country. He said a proper programme is necessary to build the country and added that the first scientifically selected cabinet will be established under the government that will be formed by the force made up of intellectuals, scholars and professionals.
Speaking further the Leader of the JVP said, “The development of a country doesn’t mean spreading concrete jungles. The people should have a higher living pattern, be healthy and lead contented lives. Today, nobody trusts government schools. Children are sent to school without an aim. There is no proper health service. The education of a child is determined according to the economic strength of the family. The ministers brag but there is no programme to educate the masses about proper health habits. There is no community health service.
Sixty million people have received treatment from government hospitals in 2017. This number goes up every year. There hasn’t been a disease prevention programme for the last 70 years.
The JVP has taken the initiative to compile national policies for health, education, sports, economy, culture and several other sectors to be implemented under a people’s government formed by forces that rally with us. For this, we have formed Compilation committees consisting of the most efficient and experienced scholars, intellectuals, professionals, progressive citizens. The policies compiled by these committees would be presented to the country in January 2019.
Hand over the country to the JVP. We would hand over the administration of the country to the skilful and knowledgeable. Politicians are unable to do it. The experts and the skilful in particular subjects would be asked to carry out development in sectors they have specialized in. At the moment scholars, intellectuals, professionals and progressives are rallying with the JVP and are making great sacrifices.
Ranil Wickremesinghe says the country would be developed in 2050. We know how Ranil develops a country. Ranil is now 69 years old. In 2050 he will be 101 years old. Ranil has given the ministerial portfolios for those who should be in homes for the aged. John Amaratunga, Jayawickrema Perera, John Seneviratna should be given an allowance of merit and sent home. There are plenty of skilled people who could carry out the duties of ministers. Ranil has given these old people ministerial portfolios stating they are seniors.
The most profitable business in Sri Lanka is politics. It is due to this, people in the two so-called main political parties as well as those from ‘name board’ parties jump from one party to another and try to be on the sided of the ruling party. None from the JVP has made politics a business. Most of the leaders of the party are graduates. All the people’s representatives are graduates, talented and have had higher education.

Representatives from other parties as soon as they get elected try to increase their salaries, allowances. Mahinda Rajapaksa has admitted that there were rogues with him. We would like to know who those rogues are. Can he name at least one rogue who had been with him?

The JVP members of the Western Provincial Council made a complaint to the Auditor General today (13th) regarding paying allowances with public money and providing other privileges to positions created violating the Constitution and the Provincial Councils Act.
As the creating positions of leader of the opposition, leader of the house, chief government whip and chief opposition whip for the provincial council violates the Constitution and the Provincial Councils Act, allocating funds for such positions is illegal and the JVP members in the Provincial Council have asked the Chairman of Audit Commission to carry out an audit investigation with regard to the move.
Speaking to the media JVP member for Western PC Lakshman Nipunaarachchi said that the UPFA and the UNP members were continuing to receive lavish benefits at the taxpayers’ expense.
Mr Nipunarachchi, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, Mr Mahinda Jayasinghe, Mr Nandana Pathmakumara

The government doesn’t have the political will to hold the provincial councils’ election states People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
PAFFREL points out political parties in the government have not come to any common understanding to hold the PC elections.
The terms of Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North Central provincial councils ended in September and October last year. The provinces are being ruled by commissioners at present while the term of the Central PC ends on 8th October, the term of the north-western ends on 10th October and the term of North Central ends on 24th October.
Despite the government stating election of all provincial councils will be held in January next year, there hasn’t been any discussion in connection with the election states PAFFREL

It is revealed that instructions given by the government to higher officials of the National Budget Department that the next budget should include provisions that could be used as election bribes for the people cannot be carried out.
As a result of this response of the higher officials, the stalwarts of the government have been highly agitated and a very serious situation unprecedented could occur in the country say political analysts.
Agitated by this position of the o9fficials who say government’s instructions cannot be carried out ministers in the ‘yahapalana’ government have started bitterly criticizing officials. Already Minister Rajitha Seenaratna has said the higher officials of the Treasury are hatching a conspiracy to topple the government.
However, the real situation is that from the second term of the Rajapaksa regime the government has obtained unlimited loans even for recurrent expenditure. According to information, the situation has reached a stage where officials have been made helpless with regard to allocating funds for various projects the government want to highlight immediately before elections. As a result, no election budget could be presented and a serious confrontation between the government and senior official of the government would be imminent say analysts.

All Ceylon Medical Officers Association (ACMOA) has written to the IGP demanding that the thugs who attacked Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr Yohan Koralage at Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital should be arrested and legal action taken against them.
The General Secretary of ACMOA Dr Jayantha Bandara in his letter to the IGP states the Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr Yohan Koralage who was attacked by the thugs spends his time knowledge and energy for the benefit of not only the people in Anuradhapura District but for the masses throughout the Northern and North Central provinces. He is also a very honest, talented and dedicated public servant points out Dr Bandara. The attack on him has been a severe blow on the masses in the region who wish to get his services.
Dr Bandara expresses his concern to the IGP for the delay in dealing with the perpetrators.

It has been revealed that a confrontation has broken out between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to get additional funds in addition to the estimated amount allocated for Moragahakanda and Kaluganga projects say reports.
On 27th March 2018 Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the subject minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs presented a cabinet paper to get US$50.5 million from Saudi Fund for Development to carry out certain restoration works in Kalu Ganga reservoir. This was approved by the cabinet.
On 14th November 2017 Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the subject minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs presented a cabinet paper to get US$210 million from Asian Development Bank to carry out certain construction work in tunnels, channels and reservoirs in connection with Moragahakanda and Kalu Ganga projects. This too was approved by the cabinet.
On 5th December 2017 President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development presented a cabinet paper to get US$ 210 million from Asian Development Bank for certain construction work connected with Moragahakanda and Kalu Ganga projects. This cabinet paper too received cabinet approval.
Attempting to get US$ 470.5 million for the same construction work in the same project within a period of one month by both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe indicates the contest between the two to claim ownership for the project say, political analysts.
The reports on the project indicate that the amount of loans the President and the Prime Minister have obtained is nearly Rs.66,780 million.
Source: ‘Irida Lanka’

The Governor for Western Province has taken measures to temporarily stop the move to import 125 chairs to the Western Provincial Council at a cost of Rs. 81,250,000 after it was revealed by the JVP Member for the Provincial Council Lakshman Nipunarachchi.
Mr Nipunarachchi had written to the Governor stating that a move was underway to import 125 chairs at a cost of Rs. 650,000 a chair to the Western Provincial Council and to intervene to stop the wasteful move. Publishing the letter in the media including the social media created an uproar and people criticized the wasteful spending of public money.
The import of the chairs has been temporarily stopped on a directive from the Governor Hemakumara Nanayakkara and an investigation has commenced say reports.

The attack on several trade union leaders by the angry commuters opposite Fort Railway Station during the strike of Railway employees was an organized attack carried out by the government says retired president and Kurunegala District Parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The retired president made this observation at a ceremony held in Galle yesterday (10th).
However, it has been already revealed that the trade union leaders who directed the strike in a manner of creating a conflict with the commuters were members of the Mahinda faction.
The commuters enraged by the sudden strike action taken by certain trade unions took to the street and severely criticized Mahinda Rajapaksa regime as well as Ranil – Maithri ‘yahapalana’ government.

Private bus owners unions say they would engage in an island-wide strike from midnight tomorrow (12th) demanding solutions for issues confronted by private bus industry.
The strike action is to be launched based on several demands including providing a diesel subsidy, abolishing the tender system for route permits. Immediately implement the joint time-table system, removal of tax for spare parts states Inter- Provincial Private Bus Operators Association.
It is reported that among the unions that are joining the strike are Inter- Provincial Private Bus Operators Association, All Ceylon Private Bus Owners’ Federation, Passenger Transport Company Ltd. And several other bus owners’ associations.

It is stated that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa had left to the USA on board an Emirates flight around 3.15 yesterday (10th) morning. He is expected to fly to the US via Dubai.
It is also said that he had left for the US due to internal conflicts, disagreements and sectarianism within the Joint Opposition and he is expected to remain in the US for around three months.
However, he is said to have obtained court approval for his travel claiming to be undergoing treatment for his illness.
According to legal experts, he has the provisions to remain in the US for over three months for his medical treatment.
Meanwhile, former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is also currently in the US. Basil and Gotabhaya are both US citizens.
Source: ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’